In an attempt to make bamboo more accessible and its use more widespread the Tripura Government has amended the Tripura Forest Transit Rules, 1952. The amendments are relating to the Transport of Bamboo and Bamboo products. The amended rules shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Tripura Gazette.
The amendments came in the wake of Tripura government’s special emphasis on bamboo related industries, small entrepreneurships and investment. Several initiatives were already in the pipeline to make the bamboo products globally and nationally popular as well as to encourage the new entrepreneurs to set up bamboo related units.
According to a government press release, Rules 12A shall be substituted as I2A Transport of Bamboo and Bamboo products. While Bamboo grown on non-forest lands shall remain exempted from royalty and Bamboo Pass, Bamboo grown on forest lands shall not pay royalty but will require to pay 5% of the purchase price as a contribution to the local JFMC revolving fund.
In addition to that, the statutory access and benefit-sharing fee shall be collected @3% of the purchase price from traders and @5% of the purchase price of bamboos from manufacturers as per notification dated November 21, 2014 for “Guidelines on Access to Biological Resources and Associated Knowledge and Benefit Sharing Regulations, 2014” of National Biodiversity Authority, MoEF & CC made under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
The local Forester/ Forest Guard may issue the bamboo pass in Form F2 (green colour) added to these Rules, on receiving payment of charges due to the JFMC, Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) and Tripura Biodiversity Board (TBB).
However, no pass shall be required for exporting green bamboo outside the state. However, if any kind of pass is required for exporting bamboo outside the state, it shall be issued by the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer/Wildlife Warden, in Form F3 (blue colour) added to these Rules, on an application made to the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer/Wild life Warden and such pass shall be considered as the national permit.
Besides, no General Pass (GP)/ Transit Pass (TP)/ export duty shall be enforced for the felling and transportation of bamboo within and outside the state. There shall be no restriction on the movement of finished bamboo products or value-added bamboo products. Form Fl shall be omitted from the principal rules.
